Thursday, April 29, 2010

It's gone - whew! - that was a long 6 weeks! I think I must be my doctor's favourite patient, he's very happy. Implant, muscle and tendon repair - a couple of months of exercises, and I'm sure I can cope with that - whoopee! I can drive my car again - tentatively, but I'll get there taking it sure and steady!

Hmmm, very bulky and restricting wasn't it?

I have been burning the candle at both ends, feeling a bit low and last night I thought it through and decided to have a blog break to get away from the computer and seriously into stitching again. Now, this morning after another computer interruption I looked at my Outlook Express Inbox and thought ' this is where part of the trouble lies!' - so many gorgeous Comments and I have read and loved them all, could I just once again be excused from making Replies? - I'm so unhappy about this - I just feel I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel if I don't get off to a new start - also, I have done so much browsing and not Commented, so please forgive me. This is so much a part of my life and I'd like to carry on if possible - there we go, hope it is okay to carry on! I've also unsubscribed to quite a few sites!

See my sidebar - this is the first edition of Fat Quarterly - PDF Download AU$8 - the whole 79 pages of it, must say I am impressed! I particularly love One Flew Over Kate's Windows and Frames Quilt - stunningly simple and the quilting is just amazing - congratulations Kate! Also, please visit Allison on Cluck.Cluck.SEWif you would like more eye-candy!

I must be the oldest 'groupie' in the world - still love a handsome face and big muscular arms - my first I-Wish man was James Dean and second Patrick Swayze.

The reason for my late nights - I have been re-watching the miniseries North and South and loving it as much as the first time around. I have been so fortunate to visit the east coast of the USA and learn so much about the Civil War! Those beautiful plantations and antebellum homes!I have always been so impressed the way the United States has preserved its history and am very pleased to see Australia has gone that way, too

Yuk, messy! My Studio - will I be able to tidy the mess? - as you can see, I have been able to pull boxes out and scatter fabrics everywhere. Let's hope I can put a bit of law and order into the place and family might help my put the boxes away again, lol! I've also had a big morning this morning and feel I am getting on top of everything in quite a few ways!

♥

Off to have some lunch and into the mess - thank you for being so understanding, I'm just sorry I have let it get to this stage and shall try really hard to keep up with it all now!

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Today we have celebrated Anzac Day honouring our brave men and women, past and present who have proudly fought for and defended our country during war times. So many have dedicated their lives to helping other countries, too - God bless you all!

Yesterday I spotted a Post about the latest Down Under Quilts magazine - one of my dearest friends, Christine of Once Upon a Quilt ...has done it again - another wonderful pattern for us all to share. Congratulations, Christine - let's see what the rest of the year brings for you, I'm sure it will all be good! Love your Pinwheel Delight! Ann of Quiltopia! Designhad her gorgeous African Dreams published in the same magazine - a stunning design a lot of you will really enjoy - congratulations, Ann, a dear Blogland friend!

Quite the trifecta this issue - for me three friends featured in the same issue - pop over to visit Julia to see what the Covergirl has to offer! Congratulations, Julia!

♥

Guess what - I have been typing with two hands tonight, yippee! It is 6 weeks tomorrow since surgery and I have decided to abandon the sling just a little at times until I see the doctor on Wednesday - I have been feeling quite a failure with it all and must not show this negativity to Mr Wang, he might make me stay in the sling a couple of more weeks and I'm not going to let that happen, so I had best approach him with a chirpy, positive attitude!

Friday, April 23, 2010

Goodness, another Post so soon - I should be stitching, but Browsing is so much more comfortable these days! Do you remember me showing an old cupboard and talking of having it painted red - Blushingham - well here it is plus the canvas of My Angel - extreme? - well maybe, but I am feeling so good about my new-look dining area! Australian designer china gracing it - Robert Gordon has been stored in the shed for over 5 years!

Sorry to bring up this subject, Christine of Once Upon a Quilt ...Now, Christine is a collector of honey pots and has an amazing collection - and I have been known to collect a few antiques in my day, says she The Minimalist! I really adore this rare little antique treasure, did have a little thought of posting it to Christine, but that little thought flitted out of my mind very quickly! Maybe I should add a codicil to my Will! Hey, this is really the TRUE colour of Blushingham - very pretty!

A gorgeous day for mail today - all the way from Pink Penguinin The USA - do visit her blog and Etsy site - thank you so much, Ayumi! Gorgeous girl, if you haven't visited, please do, you will be thrilled!

A very little sneak peek for Someone Special - French General Rural JardinChanvre Blue arrived today - I hope you Repro Enthusiasts approve it for the background of a very special quilt! I feel sure Kathie of Inspired by Antique Quiltswill aprove - what do you think, Kathie, will have a little chat one day soon? One day all will be revealed!

Not much stitching happening and I really shouldn't be showing my designing in progress - but I really feel I have achieved a long-time-wish ... let's hope it all comes up nicely in fabric - and yes, all my own work - lets not talk about Copyright issues here - I'm over it! If one has the ability, let's just share!

This is my little? hindrance - my boob is sitting on a big fat cushion built into the sling - never mind, not too long now! Happy weekend everyone!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

There's a light at the end of the tunnel - only one more week to go and then, fingers crossed, my sling comes off. Here's a few more blocks I have found from GT&SB and I know there is another cutie hiding somewhere ...

And how about this? Another block partly prepared - not a great achievement, but still a little progress!

I've had two lovely days out and about - odds and ends on Monday, our State Guild on Tuesday and Secret Quilters in the evening. Lovely to get with all the girls again! Then when I arrived home Battle Hymn had just started - DH enjoys Fox Classics - now usually I pooh-pooh them! - watched it all the way through and felt like I was watching a chick-flick - a few little tears and nobody, nobody can convince me Rock Hudson was not heterosexual - he must have acquired Aids from a blood transfusion - such a beautiful, sensitive, gentle man, lol! - sorry you young ones, out of your league and I so rarely reminisce! For all Aussie fans of Patrick Swayze, North and South starts on Foxtel next week , my all time favourite I-Wish Man - loved the miniseries, too!

Oh, dear not often I ramble - love these little Darlings and think maybe I can substitute a block in GT&SB - can I manage a start?

Lastly for today - I have been managing a little Perle quilting on Dino - he must be happy that a finish is not too far away!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

This is my effort to date - maybe I have finished a couple of more blocks - lots are waiting in the drawer, so I think this could be the perfect time to try to finish a few more!

♥

I tried doing some bookwork without my sling this morning - nuh, it didn't work! I'm feeling so despondent and that is not a good way to be! I did have a lovely chat with Chookyblue ...this morning an that's a great way to start a day as many of you know! I'm going to see if I can chat now with Christine in Brisvegas - seems she is not on top of the world and that is so not like her!

Friday, April 16, 2010

Hope you all have a fun time - I still haven't tested my sewing skills to any degree, so I really have nothing new and exciting to show you!

I have been doing lots of browsing and that in itself is fun - lots of bright, fresh ideas out there! I did have a lovely day last Tuesday at Diane's with Girlfriends! Pattie brought along a jar of yummy cookies - now how good is this? - what a way to 'bring along a plate' - all adorned in a beautiful red spotted ribbon!

Hmmm, here's me whingeing about wanting/needing a new camera! I think this glorious plant has photographed pretty well with my a la cheapie Canon Ixus 70 - it was a dull, drizzly day and the plant was on a darkish front porch and I was out on the footpath! Now, just maybe, I should be spending my money on lots more beautiful fabrics for one-day, lol!

Sunday, April 11, 2010

The weekend is nearly over and I have a few busy days ahead - thank goodness! Four weeks have passed, now another two weeks and two days to go. Every day I get great feelings of determination and then the head rules the heart - what if - what if I undo all that brilliant work!

That being the case, what can I show you? All you repro girls who love the brights will adore Folklore ... French reproductions from early 18th century. I decided to brighten our bright, sunny day by opening the pack of fat quarters!

I think they are just divine! The few browns on the right hand side are there for auditioning purposes. It has been a long time since I have seen a repro range that has thrilled me so much! I hope you enjoy the little I can offer at this stage. Still doing my DSLR homework - I think maybe Olympus is the forerunner at this stage - great reviews and the smallest - I chit-chat away in front of DH and ... silence! ... maybe he's thinking how expensive a divorce would be, lol!Happy sewing!

Friday, April 9, 2010

Rita's Flying Geese- colour selection as above 'blue' - maybe I will get this whole quilt out of my stash! Maybe I will have to solicit some help with the rotary cutter. I so admire the simplicity of Rita's quilts, she is a true artist and knows when finished is finished - do you know what I mean? Check out her straight line quilting - so beautiful!

Again, my best little friends have spent the day with me - how lucky can a girl get! I must admit the boredom is setting in a bit - no, no, must not let it! I've had little rays of sunshine here and there and it doesn't take a lot to brighten my day! Lots of lovely fat-quarter gifts and little surprises - thank you all!

♥

I'm on a mission - long story - the pic of the little angel I showed you before I went to hospital is being enlarged and made into a canvas - seems like I'm not the only one who loves it so much! My mission? - I badly want an SLR digital camera - Canon? - I would appreciate ANY comments or advice - a whim and a luxury? Well, maybe! DH has become The Opposition!

Monday, April 5, 2010

Look ... all finished! Beautifully quilted and bound - thanks so much Barb and Julia! I wish I had a you-beaut camera to do it justice! I had such a lovely time at the retreat when I made this flimsy and look at it now! Here you can see it in it's true glory closeup - love the funky flowers in the quilting - all in keeping with the Kaffe theme!

I hope you are all enjoying your Easter as much as I am - yesterday 'my best little friends in the world' and I went to the movies - all very accidental, we ended up seeing Bounty Hunter - Byron chose and I think he had seen the great car chase in a trailer - I knew nothing about the movie, so I said 'okay - let's go!' Hmmm, must agree with DD Angela who thinks Gerard Butler is just super gorgeous and as I don't really remember seeing Jennifer Aniston in a movie before (oh, I must have!), I now think she is the finest example of the girl next door, such natural beauty - oh yes, would love to see that couple together in real life! Gee, it is great I can still enjoy a chick-flick! Poor kids, though - they took it all in their stride - I guess anything for an outing with Nanny!

♥

I'm back to looking forward to each day - DH and I have just put tonight's dinner in the slow cooker ... I wonder if maybe I can do a little machine stitching?

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Oh, it is wonderful to have good friends ... what would we do without them! My Kaffe quilt arrived in the post today - Barb, another dear friend has quilted it on her longarm - I just love what she has done with it - closeup to come!

I quickly picked up the phone to ask Juliaif she would stitch the binding for me - a lovely 'yes' from her - so I'm thrilled! I think the goldie fabric should just add a sparkle and bring out the soft gold in the quilt!

Oopsy! Time rushes on, so here we are Good Friday - a happy and blessed Easter to all - stay safe on the roads! All is sitting very beautifully with my shoulder and no magic sling for stitching and driving - only another 4 weeks loss of independence. I am so lucky I can big-stitch quilt and it has been lovely having time to browse, checking out all the beautiful projects!

I have received some lovely little surprises in the mail and now I can't wait to get my Outlook Express working to thank the senders - maybe tomorrow, fingers and toes crossed! BigpondWebmail is just too slow and tiresome for me.